The Man and the Dance Teacher

One night a salesman was sleeping when music and dancing, from the apartment above, woke him. Agitated, he paced the floor for hours until the music and dancing stopped. Night after night his sleep was disturbed. Without effect, he yelled, hit the ceiling, and left a note on his neighbor's mailbox. After a long week, the angry salesman went upstairs and pounded on his neighbor's door.

"What is it?" a woman asked, as she opened the door.

"You have to stop this noise," the man replied. "I have not been able to sleep all week."

"I'm sorry. I can't," the woman said. "I have to give dance lessons at night to support myself."

"Then I am going to the landlord," he said.

"Don't do that," she said. "Come in here. I will give you free dance lessons." Then she grabbed the right arm of the salesman, who was too lethargic to resist. The salesman hesitated, but then the rhythm of the music invaded him, and he started dancing. Hour after hour he danced, losing all track of time, and then he slept without interruption until morning. And from that night forward, the man danced for hours, filling his spirit with energy, and the peaceful sleep he got was all that he needed.

 

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